Walnut

Technically a walnut is the seed of a drupe or drupaceous nut, and thus not a true botanical nut.

The worldwide production of walnuts has been increasing rapidly in recent years, with the largest increase coming from Asia. The world produced a total of 2.55 million metric tonnes of walnuts in 2010; China was the world’s largest producer of walnuts, with a total harvest of 1.06 million metric tonnes. The other major producers of walnuts were (in the order of decreasing harvest): Iran, United States, Turkey, Ukraine, Mexico, Romania, India, France and Chile.

Nutritional Valueof Walnut

Walnuts not only taste good, but they provide essential nutrients and are cholesterol free. Their positive affect on the heart can be especially attributed to the high content of alpha linolenic acid. Among natural nourishment, walnuts feature the highest concentration of these essential Omega 3 fatty acids: for every 100g of edible mass, they have 7g. The protective function of walnuts on the heart is also supported by vitamin E.